Nintendo apologizes for not including same-sex relationships in game

Nintendo is sorry it didn’t include same-sex relationships in a soon-to-be-released videogame. It’s just not going to do anything about it.

On Friday, the videogame maker apologized for the omission in its upcoming life simulator game “Tomodachi Life,” but said it’s simply too late to make a change.

“We apologize for disappointing many people by failing to include same-sex relationships in Tomodachi Life,” Nintendo said in a statement. “Unfortunately, it is not possible for us to change this game’s design, and such a significant development change can’t be accomplished with a post-ship patch”

Tomodachi Life players control “Mii” characters that can go shopping, play games, encounter celebrities, and engage in romantic gestures, like flirting, dating, and marrying, with other Mii characters. Those romantic activities are only possible between two Mii characters of opposing genders.

Last month, Arizona native Tye Marini launched a campaign to push the Japan-based company to include same-sex relationships in the hand-held Nintendo 3DS game. He sought support on Facebook and Twitter using hashtag #Miiquality.

Nintendo said earlier this week that it would not bow to pressure on social media to allow same-sex relationships, noting that the company did not intend “any for of social commentary” with the game.

The game was released in Japan last year and is set to come out in North America and Europe on June 6.

Nintendo said it will “strive to design a game-play experience from the ground up that is more inclusive” for the next installment of Tomodachi Life.